FILM: REVIEWS
Yam Laranas Directs a Masterful Psychological Thriller
Todd Grinnell and Ali Hillis in Nesting.
The Road is a must-see for horror fans. Danger Train Films
The Road revolutionizes the psychological thriller genre.
Courtesy of Prodigy Public Relations
By Marvin Vasquez Perhaps it is the three stories within one, or the original horror entwined in the plot of this foreign film that make The Road one of the best movies for the ages in its genre, but the fact is that director Yam Laranas created a masterpiece. “I look for inspiration here and there,” Laranas says, who in this case found it through a painting. A psychological thriller out of the Philippines, The Road tells three different stories in three parts. However, they relate to the movie’s essence – a catastrophic past that leads to a series of unfortunate and evil events from beginning to end. “The biggest challenge was to make logic of the story being told in reverse,” Laranas says. “I want you to feel a lot of things. To me, at the end of the film there are a lot of interpretations and different points of view. I see that as something that is new, which I am hoping will resonate with the audience.” In part one, two girls, Ella and Janine, and a boy named Brian are on a joyride in the middle of the night in 2008. Brian takes charge behind the wheel in an effort to teach both how to drive. Suddenly, they enter a lost road that leads into the woods –and this turns out to be the biggest mistake of their lives. “I was wondering about how it is to be trapped after one stupid mistake of going out and road tripping,” Laranas says. “What if I make this one really creepy road and create a ghost story?” Part two features an incredibly gorgeous Rhian Ramos as Lara, the older sister of Joy, in 1998. It is daylight while Lara drives with Joy on the road. After passing a teen Luis (Alden Richards) while driving, their car breaks down. In need of water, the girls ask for help. Luis offers them just that, but instructs them to follow him back home. What evolves is a disaster for both. “I was looking for a connection, and then came the story of the sisters,” Laranas shares. “This was inspired by a real crime in the Philippines.” Laranas said that this part of the plot carries the scariest moment of the film. “These are things you do not expect and that seem real. Real fear and real horror are things that we can relate to.” Throughout part three, we see a young Luis (who also is in part one but at a much older age) at home suffering from physical, mental and emotional abuse from his mother Carmela (Carmina Villaroel), an unfaithful woman about to leave her husband Alberto (Marvin Agustin) and son for a lover. After much begging for positive change, Alberto does the unthinkable to his wife and himself. This leaves the young Luis alone with degrading images of the occurrence. In the end, all questions are answered in distinctive fashion, but others arise in this cinematic portrayal of murders, abduction and crimes. The Road took five years to make, and was shot entirely in the Philippines. Asked about a possible remake of it in the U.S., Laranas mentioned his potential involvement. “It hasn’t crossed my mind at this point,” he says. “But if ever that happens, I may just help produce it.” For its creative plot, solid acting, daring psychological thrills and prolific direction, The Road is the must-see horror flick of the year. “I think somebody looking for a scare and a good time will find what they are looking for,” Laranas says. “Juxtaposing terror and beauty makes for an exciting visual experience, and I think that is present here.”
YET ANOTHER MOVIE ABOUT UNHAPPY 30-SOMETHINGS Nesting lacks the originality needed to make it a great film. By Ariel Paredes Grade: D What happens when you grow up and aren’t happy with the person you have become? Can you travel back and revisit your former self? Neil (Todd Grinnell) and Sarah (Ali Hillis) attempt to do that in the film Nesting, co-written and directed by John Chuldenko. The movie follows two 30-something former hipsters who have become fullfledged yuppies. Despite buying expensive coffeemakers, high-end furniture in colors like “toasted almond” and fancy new flooring, they find themselves in a rut. Longing for those carefree times of their former selves, Neil and Sarah impulsively deicide to head back to their old hip L.A. neighborhood. Illegally squatting in their previous apartment, they soon discover that being “young and fun” isn’t all that it cracked up to be. Although the movie had good intentions, it felt like watching a student film project. The plot lacked originality: Watching 30-somethings cross over into yuppiedom and then freak about how they got there is a very worn story. There were issues with the characters as well. Neil just seemed too corny and bland to make the audience ever believe he was once cool. There is a glimmer that his wife Sarah was edgy in her heyday, but it’s a longshot. How these two ended up together in the first place isn’t made clear either. Neil’s best friend Graham, played by Kevin Linehan, was there to serve as comic relief, but he was far from funny; he was actually quite annoying. He came off like an adult suffering from arrested development who just kept spouting inappropriate things. Hearing Neil constantly whine and complain about how nice their life turned out was a turn-off. Sarah was the sole breadwinner, yet Neil had no problem spending her hard-earned money. At one point he asks, “Are you happy?” If you have only been together for five years and are already asking that question, then it’s going to be a long road ahead for both them –and the audience. Despite unlikable characters and mediocre acting, there were some bright spots in the film. Neil shined when he showcased his affection for Sarah, at one point telling her, “I love you so hard right now,” which was very endearing. In the end, we all want to hear someone say something like that. Also, the sly comments about the current state of hipsters was witty and on-point, from jokes about the way they choose to dress in outfits suited for Jazzercise to their obsession with eating at “trendy” restaurants – one of which changed the name of a “Culture Club” sandwich to the “White Stripes,” simply because of the addition of mayo! Overall, this film brought nothing new to the table, and lacked exciting characters. It was entertaining to catch a glimpse into life in a “cool” L.A. neighborhood and the people living in it, but it failed to make any lasting impression. Nesting releases May 11.
The Road releases May 11.
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Campus Circle 5.10.12 - 5.23.12
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